Never would I have guessed

Rumi, Translated by Ali Arsanjani

Never would I have guessed, this adventure could intoxicate me so,
making hell of my heart and turning my eyes into rivers so,
never could I have guessed, that a flood would wipe me away,
casting me mercilessly upon the blood-filled ocean so,

bringing a thunderous wave upon that ship that tore it board by board
that in this relentless whirling, every board would be undone so,
that a giant whale would rise from deep and drink the ocean
never would I have thought an ocean could be swallowed dry like so,
thereafter the desert would swallow the ocean-devouring whale so,
and as with Heron, the desert too, shall be swallowed by wrath divine, like so,
neither desert nor ocean remain, when succeeding transformations whirl so,

What became of Being when it drowned in Nonbeing, I really do not know,
There are many things we know, but I no longer know --
swimming for my life, I must have swallowed foam, the rest I do not know...

The Smiling Pomogranate

نار خندان که دهان بگشادست

The smiling pomegranate who bares its teeth
چونگ در پوست نگنجد چه کند

Who cannot contain itself in its own skin , what shall it do?

مه تابان بجز از خوبی و ناز

The shining moon if not for its goodness and shyness
چه نماید چه پسندد چه کند

What shall it reveal? What does it like? What shall it do?

آفتاب ار ندهد تابش و نور

If the Sun does not shine and emanate light
پس بدیننادره گنبد چه کند

Then what of its role in this rarefied dome?

سایه چون طلعت خورشید بدید

When the shadow saw the rays of the sun
نکند سجده نخنبد چه کند

If not to prostrate itself, what could it do?

عاشق از بوی خوش پیرهنت

If the lover, smelling the sweet smell of your blouse
پیرهن را ندراند چه کند

Does not tear it open, what would he do?

 

مولوی،دیوان شمس مولوی،غزل۸۳۵

Thanks to A Norouzifar for  suggesting this Ghazal.